Fort Worth Has Two Daddies
by Bernie
Will the real “Father of Fort Worth” please stand up?
Early Fort Worth resident and promoter John Peter Smith is often referred to as the “Father of Fort Worth” by history writers. I’ve seen it so many times, including on Mr. Smith’s own miraculous posthumous blog, that I never really felt the need to question the accuracy of the title.
However, the other day I was walking past the convention center and stopped to read the Texas Historic Marker at the northwest corner of the block. The marker is dedicated to early Fort Worth settler Ephraim M. Daggett, and to my surprise the marker claimed that Mr. Daggett was indeed known as the “Father of Fort Worth.”
A message that I left at Mr. Smith’s blog was met with assurances that he was Fort Worth’s true dad, but I still had some unanswered questions.
As I started to research the lives of each of these Fort Worth pioneers, I learned some interesting things. Both Smith and Daggett worked for a few of the same causes, including the relocation of the Tarrant County Seat from Birdville to Fort Worth, and the arrival of the railroad. It could be argued that without these two bellwether events, Fort Worth might never have grown into a great city.
As landowners, both men also generously donated to the growing community. Smith most notably gave land for the first school and the hospital which still bears his name (though it has moved). Daggett donated acreage for the city’s first railroad depot.
So why, then, is John Peter Smith commonly known as “The Father of Fort Worth,” while Ephraim Daggett has been almost forgotten in popular history?
The answer might be money. While both men were rather wealthy in their day, John Peter Smith was one of the wealthiest men in town, and was reported to be the largest landowner in Fort Worth. Since his descendents would undoubtedly have been wealthier than Daggett’s, were they simply better able to keep their patriarch’s name alive?
I’m not sure why Daggett’s “Father of Fort Worth” title has been forgotten over the years, but I have uncovered a couple of details that make me believe he may have a stronger claim to the title than Smith does.
First, we can consider the opinions of the folks who actually lived in those days of Fort Worth’s infancy. The people of the town nicknamed E.M. Daggett “Pappy,” because of his Fatherly demeanor and the sage advice he gave his neighbors.
Also, when Fort Worth was officially incorporated as a city in 1873, the first ordinance was to set regular city council meetings and adopt an official city seal. That seal held the likeness of none other than Ephraim M. Daggett.
So, if the first residents of this city considered E.M. “Pappy” Daggett to be the “Father of Fort Worth,” who are we to argue with them?
3 Comments, Comments or Pings
John Peter Smith
Bernie:
I don’t know why you consider my having a blog so miraculous. After all, famous dead people frequently speak out on current issues. How often have you head someone say “Martin Luther King would have never…” or “John F. Kennedy opposed….” and then go on to argue that these famous dead men would support their cause? Heck, there are even folks that claim to know what kind of vehicle Jesus Christ would drive.
While it is true that I did retire somewhat from public life upon my death in 1901, my love for our great city brings me back.
My humility will not allow me to trumpet my accomplishments in comparison to those of Mr. Daggett. You are correct, his signature appears on the “birth certificate” of Fort Worth. However, I will ask you to take a look at your own birth certificate. The signature is usually that of the attending physician, not the father.
Dec 5th, 2007
Bernie
I think the reason it seems so miraculous to me is that I know how hard it was for my own parents to master the new internet technology… for a dude at your age to do it from the other side of the grave seems like quite a feat!
For the record, I have never heard anyone say “Martin Luther King would have never…” or “John F. Kennedy opposed….”, at least that I can remember.
And surely everybody has figured out by now that if Jesus were around today, he’d ride a bicycle.
Dec 5th, 2007
John Peter Smith
Really?
Then you must not listen to many Republicans. Dr. King’s words are evoked quite a bit by those who oppose affirmative action and President Kennedy is quite popular with those in favor of a strong defense. President Reagan was very fond of quoting Kennedy.
As far as Jesus riding a bicycle. Well, generally I let Jesus speak for himself as he did have a way with words. However, I do know that he was seen as something of nonconformist in his day. So if most folks were driving pickup trucks, yeah, I could see Jesus riding a bike.
Dec 5th, 2007
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